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By Nem Elliott
I have been
asked to discuss in these notes the stages of development of
puppies, what permanent faults may appear early, and whether you
can rely on an adult dog reverting to what he showed at seven or
eight weeks old. I must start by saying that there are no hard
and fast rules of development and that one certainly cannot rely
on a dog turning out as good as he looked at eight weeks, but I
would also say that if a puppy doesn't look up too much at eight
weeks it is highly unlikely to improve out of all recognition.
The only exceptions are when they look poor at eight weeks due
to bad rearing. It is perfectly possible for a weedy specimen,
which gets a good home to improve and mature into an average
animal, but that isn't construction and it isn't what my
correspondent wants to know.
The stages of
development, broadly speaking, are like this:-
3 - 4
weeks:
very short legged, low to the ground and deep
bodied, all look good.
5 - 6
weeks:
begin to show shape, but still too long and
low.
7 - 8
weeks
correct proportions for the first time. Now
is the time to see which are too low in leg length, or overlong
in loin. At this stage they can be stood up and felt for lay of
shoulder, angle of upper arm and length and position of croup.
Most will misled you as regards hindquarters by crouching when
handled, so watch them standing around before you fix opinions
on this point. They also begin to gait, but bear in mind that
the happy-go-lucky puppy seldom has as fleet and smooth gait as
a windy one that gets down to it. This does not mean the
resulting adult will not move well when controlled.
9 - 10
weeks
They start to grow, legs shoot up, and in a
short while they can look to lack body.
12 weeks:
Top coat starts to come in.
14 - 16
weeks:
Body deepens, top coat becomes shiny, ears
should be up by now.
5 months:
The best stage of all, they should look like
miniature adults. A really good puppy is a dream at this stage.
6 - 9
months:
Anything can happen. This is the period when
they grow fast and irregularly, and frequently go over built.
9 - 10
months:
They even out and become fairly presentable
again, except for looking very square in croup if a heavy puppy
wool is carried
12 months:
They usually cast their first coat and care
is needed to see they don't cast all their flesh with it, as
once lost it is very hard indeed to regain.
After the
prolonged moult, at about 15 months, the sleek and beautiful
young adult emerges and then and only then can you be sure how
good it is! Very few indeed go through all these stages looking
good all the way. The majority give you some doubtful moments.
As for what
permanent faults appear early, I think nearly all constructional
faults are visible at eight weeks, especially upright upper arm,
short stifles, and overlong proportions. The sort of thing you
cannot foretell are back lines, sufficient height at withers to
give a nice slope, eventual size and ear carriage. Teeth can
sometimes let you down unexpectedly even as late as 6 - 8
months. Soundness should be present from the start. A true
moving puppy fore and aft is unlikely to change much unless
badly reared and allowed to go rickety. |